Electric baseball batting game



p 1970 J; J. TRZESNIEWSKI 3 ELECTRIC BASEBALL BATTING GAME Filed Sept. 17, 1968- 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 INVENTOR y0sep% @awz/azuak/ BY p 1970 J. J. TRZESNIEWSKI 3,531,115

ELECTRIC BASEBALL BATTING GAME Filed Sept. 17, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR.

gammy tinned States Patent Ofice 3,531,116 Patented Sept. 29, 1970 3,531,116 ELECTRIC BASEBALL BATTING GAME Joseph J. Trzesniewski, 1711 W. Lincoln Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 53215 Filed Sept. 17, 1968, Ser. No. 760,219 Int. Cl. A63b 69/00 US. Cl. 273-26 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A baseball batting game of skill in which a movie is projected on a screen showing a baseball pitcher pitching a baseball. At the instant that the pitcher releases the ball, a beam of light is directed in the path of travel that the ball would take if it had actually been thrown by the pitcher. The beam of light actuates a photocell and it appears at approximately the same time that the baseball would reach the batter if it had actually been pitched by the pitcher shown on the movie screen. The individual playing the game stands between the screen and the photocell, and swings a bat at the pitched ball shown on the screen. If the swing is accurate, he interrupts the beam of light to indicate a hit. If the player is not accurate with his swing, he fails to interrupt the beam of light and a miss is scored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to an electric baseball game in which the player tests his skill by batting at a simultation of a pitched ball and the apparatus scores his accuracy.

Description of the prior art A number of electrically operated game boards representing conventional sport contests are available. However, these games do not actually test the skill of the players in the particular sport which is represented by the game board. If the player operating such game board develops a skill, it is a skill in operating the particular electric game board which he is using, but not a skill in the sport which the game board represents. On the other hand, some of such games require a very minimum amount of skill and are primarily games of chance.

For example, an electric game board may represent the popular sport of baseball. The board will contain a number of figures representing players of two opposing teams. A ball is released toward a figure representing a batter and the figures are then maneuvered about the board to strike the ball for the purpose of advancing it in a desired direction. The individuals playing the game control the movement of the figures by manipulating levers. One person will operate the set of figures representing one team and another person will operate the figures representing the opposing team, and each team will attempt to advance the ball in a manner to simulate the game of baseball. The persons participating in such games may develop a skill in maneuvering the figures about the game board for advancing the ball, but they would not in any way develop their proficiency in playing the sport of baseball.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide an electrically operated baseball game in which the person playing the game will develop his batting skill in the conventional baseball game.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electrically operated baseball game which will enable the player to develop his skill in batting a pitched baseball, Without actually hitting a baseball, so that the practice can be carried on indoors in a confined area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention the improved electric baseball game comprises a game of skill especially adapted to test the players ability to strike a conventionally pitched baseball. The playing of the game constitutes batting practice for the player which leads to improved proficiency at striking a baseball pitched in the normal manner when the sport is actually played. The pitching of the baseball is simulated by a movie showing a baseball player on the pitching mound of a baseball field pitching a baseball toward the person who is playing the game of the present invention. Such person is standing with a baseball bat and swings the bat at the baseball in exactly the same manner as if a baseball was actually being pitched toward him.

In the interval during which the baseball shown on the movie would actually be in the location of the batter, a beam of light is generated and is directed into the same path that the baseball would travel if it had actually been pitched by the player depicted on the movie screen. This beam of light strikes a photoelectric cell located behind the person playing the game so that the batter is swinging the bat between the movie screen and the photoelectric cell. If the person playing the game swings the bat with sufficient accuracy to bat the baseball if it had actually been thrown by the pitcher depicted on the movie screen, the bat will have interrupted the beam of light to inactivate the photocell for a moment. This will actuate an electric circuit to indicate a hit. On the other hand, if the batter fails to interrupt the beam of light when swinging the bat, an inaccurate swing will be registered to indicate that the player missed the pitched baseball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The foregoing and other objects of the invention, which will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, may be achieved by means of the apparatus described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an electric baseball game constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical control circuit for regulating the operation of the electric baseball game illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary electrical view showing a strip of movie film for the first of the two projectors in the apparatus, the film being illustrated in relationship with a pair of switches that are actuated by protrusions on the edge of the film;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to the view in FIG. 3, but illustrating a strip of film employed in the second projector;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the plane represented by the line 55 in FIG. 4 to show how the edge of the movie film is located with respect to the switch actuated by the protrusions in the edge of the film;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the amplifier circuit for the photoelectric cell which actuates the register for the game score; and

FIG. 7 is a plan View of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings and specifically to FIG. 1, thereof, which illustrates an electric baseball batting game constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. As there shown, the improved baseball batting game of the present invention comprises a cabinet 30 having a movie screen 31 and a pair of movie projectors 32 and 33 which are illustrated in FIG. 7. The movie projectors 32 and 33 are located in position within the cabinet 30 behind the screen 31 to separately project a movie picture onto the 3 screen 31. The projectors 32 and 33 are connected in a manner to be described so that either one of the projectors may be operated individually to project a picture onto the screen.

The cabinet also enclose the electrical control circuit illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 2 and includes a sound system with a speaker 35 for producing the sound generated by a sound track on the movie film which is being projected by either one of the two movie projectors 32 and 33. A coin slot 36 is provided for activating the game upon the receipt of a coin of prescribed value.

A stand 37 is located a distance from the cabinet 30 to support a photoelectric cell 40 in position to receive a beam of light emanating from the movie screen 31 for purposes to be subsequently described.

The person who is playing the electric baseball game of the present invention, of course, activates the game by inserting a coin into the coin slot 36. The player then stands at a prescribed spot between the cabinet 30 and the photoelectric cell 40, in position to swing a baseball bat 42 at a baseball which is pictured as being thrown by a baseball pitcher represented by the picture 45 on the movie screen 31. Inasmuch as the movie screen 31 shows the picture 45 of a baseball pitcher, of course, the baseball itself does not exist, and cannot be thrown toward the batter. However, in lieu of a baseball, a beam of light is directed through the point 46 on the screen 31 where the baseball is being pictured as released by the pitcher 45. Such beam of light is represented by the broken line 47 and is generated by a light source 48. The light beam 47 is directed to the photoelectric cell 40 along a path of travel which corresponds to the path of travel that the baseball would take if it actually left the hand of the baseball pitcher 45.

The beam of light 47 is produced at substantially the same time that the baseball would reach the batter, if the ball had actually been pitched by the pitcher illustrated on the movie screen. In any event, the beam of light 47 is activating the photoelectric cell 40 during the time that a baseball would be passing by the batter, if such baseball had actually been pitched by the pitcher represented by the picture 45 on the screen 31.

In playing the game, the batter watches the image 45 of the baseball pitcher on the screen 31, and swings at the pitched baseball as it appears to come out of the screen 31 from the hand of the pitcher represented in the image 45. A baseball does not actually emerge from the screen 31, but a batter watching the movie picture shown on screen 31 receives the impression that a baseball is actually being pitched as the picture shows it being released by the pitcher 45.

However, instead of a baseball emanating from the screen 31, the beam of light 47 appears instead, and it is directed in the path of travel that the baseball would travel if it actually had been released by the pitcher 45. The beam of light 47 also crosses the batter at approximately the instant that a baseball would pass by him if it actually had been released by the pitcher 45 appearing on the screen 31.

The batter swings the bat 42 in the same manner as he would be swinging at a baseball actually being pitched by the baseball pitcher represented by the image 45 on the screen 31. If the batter is accurate in his swing, the bat 42 will interrupt the beam of light 47 sufiiciently to deactivate the photoelectric cell 40 and cause a hit to appear on a score board generally identified by the reference numeral 50, and which registers the number of hits and misses scored by the batter. If the batter is inaccurate in his swing and would have missed the ball pitched by the baseball pitcher 45, the bat 42 will fail to interrupt the beam of light 47 and the photoelectric cell 40 will remain activated without interruption. As a result, a miss will be scored on the score board 50.

In order to add realism to the game and enable the batter to immediately realize whether he has scored a hit or a miss, a cable 51 connects the bat 42 to the electrical control circuit shown in FIG. 2 and which is contained in the cabinet 30. Upon the scoring of a hit, a solenoid in the bat 42 is actuated to jar the bat in a manner to simulate the bat hitting a baseball, and at the same time a sound emanates from the speaker 35, which corresponds to the sound produced by a baseball being hit by a hat.

The electrical control circuit of the game is so arranged that the picture of the baseball pitcher throwing the baseball is produced from a film projected by the projector 32 on the screen 31. If the baseball is pitched, and the batter is inaccurate in his swing, scoring a miss, the projector 31 continues to operate to show a picture of the pitcher 45 on the screen 31 receiving the baseball and getting ready to complete another pitch. On the other hand, in the event that the batter scores a hit, the operation of the projector 32 is interrupted and operation of the projector 33 is initiated. A different movie film is contained in the projector 33 and it projects onto the screen 31, a picture of a baseball fielder retrieving a baseball to simulate the playing of a baseball game as though an actual baseball had been hit out into the field.

The electrical control circuit for controlling the operation of the electrical baseball game of the present invention is shown in the wiring diagrams illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. A portion of the electrical control circuit illustrated in FIG. 2 shows the electrical components obtain- I ing power from alternating current power lines, AC1 and AC2. Each of the components is shown in the wiring diagram of FIG. 2 as being connected across the power lines in one of the purality of conductors or lines that are connected across the power lines with each of these lines being identified successively by a numeral prefixed by the letter L. Thus, FIG. 2 shows the lines L1 to L24 inclusive and the components may be readily located in the diagram by specifying the line in which it is wired. The contacts of the various relays are identified by the same reference numerals and letters as their associated relay coils with a numeral sufiix being added for the purpose of distinguishing each individual contact from the others.

The power lines AC1 and AC2 shown in FIG. 2 are energized by closing a double pole, single throw, main switch 55 to connect the lines AC1 and AC2 to the source of electrical energy represented by the lines P1 and P2. Although closing of the main switch 55 energizes the power lines AC1 and AC2, it does not activate the game. This is done by inserting a coin in the slot 36 to actuate the double pole coin switch 56. This switch has a normally open contact 57 and a normally closed contact 58 which are interconnected for simultaneous operation. The normally open contact 57 is located in line L3 while the normally closed contact 58 is located in line L5. The insertion of a coin into the coin slot 36 actuates the switch 56 to close its normally open contact 57 for completing a circuit to a pair of stepping switch release coils 60 and 61, and a latching relay ICRL which, when energized, will actuate its associated contacts and the latter will remain in the actuated condition until an unlatching coil lCRU shown in line L5 of FIG. 2 is energized.

The energization of the stepping switch coil 60 in line L2 will release a stepping switch shown diagrammatically in lines L19 and L20 of FIG. 2 and generally identified by the reference numeral 605. In like manner, energization of the release coil 61 will reset a stepping switch generally identified by the reference number 618 and which is illustrated digrammatically in lines L23 and L24 of the FIG. 2. The stepping switch 605 comprises a contact arm 62 which is connected to the conductor in line L20 to successively engage a pul'ality of contacts identified by the reference numerals 60-0 to 60-10 inclusive. The contact arms 62 is actuated to contact each of these contacts successively by energization of a coil 60C located in Line L13. Each energization of the coil 60C produces an impulse which advances the contact arm 62 one position to the succeeeding operating contact. The stepping switch 60S actuates a purality of lights 63-0 to 63-10 inclusive with each advancement of the contact arm 62 energizing the succeeding lamp 63. Each succeeding lamp is associated with corresponding consecutive numbers in the score board 50 to indicate the hits. As the stepping switch 605 is advanced one increment, the succeeding lamp 63 is lit to indicate the scoring of another hit by the batter.

In like manner, the stepping switch 615 actuates the score board 50 for registering the misses scored by the batter. When the coil 61 is energized by actuation of the coin switch 56, it resets the stepping switch 615 to locate its contact arm 65 to the position for indicating a 0 number of misses. Each time the batter swings inaccuratedly to miss the pitched ball, a coil 61C in line L12 of FIG. 2 is energized to advance the arm 65 one increment for successively energizing a plurality of lights 66-0 to 66-10. The lights 66-0 to 66-10 inclusive are mounted in score board 50 with each successive light being associated with a corresponding successive number on the score board 50. Each time the batter misses the ball, the coil 61C is energized to actuate the stepping switch 61S one increment for lighting the succeeding light 66 to register another miss on the score board 50.

When the latching relay coil lCRL is energized, it closes its normally open contact lCRL-l in line L6. After the coin has been inserted into the slot 36 the switch 56 is deactuated again and its contact 58, in line L5, returns to its normally closed position. This completes a circuit through the contact 58 and the now closed contact 1CRL-1 in line L6 energizes the on light 67 which lights up on the cabinet 30 above the coin slot 36 to indicate to the batter that the game has been activated.

The closure of the relay contact 1CRL-1 in line L6 also energizes the two projector motors 70 and 71 for actuating the two projectors 32 and 33 respectively. Although 'both projector motors are operating, only a projector light 72 for the projector 32 is energized. A projector light 73 shown in line L for the projector 33 remains de-energized so that its movie film is not being projected onto the screen 31. The projector light 72 is energized by the completion of a circuit through the now closed contact lCRL-l, a common conductor 74, a conductor 75 in line L8 and thence through a common conductor 76 through the normally closed contact 2CRL-1 and a sound amplifying system 77 associated with the movie projector 32. The circuit then continues through the conductor in line L9 to the projector lamp 72, the circuit being completed to the power line AC2. It will be noted that the sound amplifying system 77 associated with the projector 32 is energized so that the sound on the sound track (not shown) of the movie film is activated through the speaker 35 to produce the normal sounds associated with a baseball game. With the projector motor 70'energized and its projector lamp 72 lit, the movie passing through the projector 32 is projected onto the screen 31 showing the image 45 of a baseball pitcher throwing the ball to the batter who is wielding the bat 42 with the intention of batting the imaginary ball being thrown by the pitcher 45. FIG. 3 illustrates a strip of movie film 80 which is being projected onto the screen 31 by the projector 32 to illustrate a movie picture of a baseball player 45 throwing a baseball toward the batter.

The left side of the film strip 80 as viewed in FIG. 3 is provided with a protrusion 81 for actuating a switch 82 when the baseball is shown as being released by the pitcher 45, and the switch 82 will remain actuated for an interval of time. Actuation of the switch 82 activates the photoelectric cell 40 and energizes the source of light 48 for producing the light beam 47. The normally open switch 82 is shown diagrammatically in line L12 of FIG. 2

and its actuation closes its cooperating contact to complete a circuit from the energized conductor 76 to line L12, a common conductor 83 and the conductor in line L16 to the light source 48 and the relay 3CR with the circuit beam completed to the line AC2.

Energization of the relay coil 3CR in line L16 of FIG. 2 closes its normally open contact 3C R-1 shown in FIG. 6 which illustrates the circuit for the photo-electric cell 40. The circuit shown in FIG. 6 receives energy from a suitable source for energizing conductors 84 and 85. The closure of the normally open contact 3CR-1 in FIG. 6 directs a voltage to the anode of an amplifier tube 86. While the beam of light 47 is focused on the photoelectric cell 40, the amplifier tube 86 is in a quiescent state. However, if the batter is accurate in his swing and interrupts the beam of light 47, the amplifier tube 86 is biased by the increase of the internal resistance in the photoelectric cell. This activates the tube 86 to energize the coil 4CR of a relay, the circuit being completed through the conductor 84, and the now closed contact 3CR-1 connected in a conductor 87. From the conductor 87, the current flows through the activated tube 86 and a conductor 88, a potentiometer 89, and a resistor 90 to return to its source represented by the line 85. Thus, completion of this circuit energizes the relay 4CR to close its normally open contact 4CR-1 FIG. 6 to establish a holding circuit by passing the tube 86 and flowing from the conductor 87 to a conductor 91 through the now closed contact 4CR-1 and a conductor 92 to a resistor 93 and thence to the return line 85. Thus, the relay 4CR shown in FIG. 6 is energized only at such time when the batter scores a hit and thereby interrupts the beam of light directed to the photoelectric cell 40. When the interruption of the beam of light 47 occurs, the relay 4CR is energized and it remains energized by reason of actuation of its normally open contact 4CR-1 in FIG. 6.

Energization of the relay 4CR also opens its normally closed contact 4CR-2 in line L12 of FIG. 2 and closes its normally opened contact 4CR-3 in line L13 of FIG. 2. When the relay 4CR is first energized, a switch 95 shown in FIG. 3, first remains deactuated, but shortly after the relay 4CR is energized, the switch 95 is actuated by the protrusion 81 on the film to open its normally closed contact 96 in line L13 of FIG. 2 and close its normally closed contact 97 in line L12 of FIG. 2.

Now if a hit is scored by the batter to energize the relay 4CR, its associated normally open contact 4CR-3 in line L13 will close, and before the switch 95 is actuated, will complete a circuit to the coil 60C of the stepping switch 605 to move the contact arm 62 of the stepping switch 60S one increment for energizing the next light 63 to indicate a hit on the score board 50. For example, if no hits have been registered, and the relay 4CR has been energized by the scoring of a hit on the part of the batter, the coil 60C will be energized by completion of a circuit through the energized common conductor 76. the now closed switch 82, the common conductor 83 and a conductor 98 to the now closed relay contact 4CR-3 in line L13 and thence through a conductor 99 through the closed contact 96 of the switch 95 and thence through a conductor 101 to the coil 60C to return to its source represented by the line AC2 through a conductor 102. Such energization of the coil 60C will move the contact arm 62 of the stepping switch 605 so that it will engage the contact 60-1 to complete a circuit from the line AC1 through the conductor in line L20 and through the arm 62 to the contact 60-1 and thence to the light 63-1. From the light 63-1 the circuit continues through a common conductor 103 to return to its source represented by the line AC2. In like manner, each time the coil 60C is energized, it advances the contact arm 62 of the stepping switch 608 one increment to successively energize the lights 63 for indicating the number of hits on the score board 50.

The above description describes the operation of the electrical circuit when a hit has been scored by the batter. However, if he misses the ball and thereby fails to interrupt the beam of light 47, the relay 4CR will remain de-energized and its normally open contact 4CR- 3 in line L13 will remain open so that hit coil 60C will not be energized and a hit will not be registered on the scoreboard. By the same token, the normally closed contact 4CR-2 in line L12 of FIG. 2 will remain closed by reason of the failure of the relay coil 4CR to be energized and when the switch 95 is actuated by the protrusion 81 on the film 80, its contact 97 will close for a moment to complete a circuit to the coil 61C of the stepping switch 618. Such circuit will be completed through the energized common conductor 76 and the now closed switch 82 and thence through a conductor 107 through the normally closed contact 4CR2 and thence through the now closed contact 97 of the switch 95. The circuit then continues to the coil 61C to return to its source represented by the line AC2. Energization of the coil 61C will advance the contact arm 65 of the stepping switch 618 one increment to energize the succeeding light 66 for registering a miss on the scoreboard 50. After this portion of the film 80 has been advanced by the projector 32, the switch 95 will be deactuated by reason of the passage of the protrusion 81 on the film 80, but by this time, the hit or miss will have been registered on the scoreboard 50 and the related circuitry will return to its normal state.

In the event that a hit is scored, it is also necessary to switch from the projector 32 to the projector 33 for the purpose of showing a filter retrieving the hit baseball on the screen 31. In addition, it is desired to energize a solenoid 110 in the bat 42 to create the feeling of the shock of a ball hitting the hat. The solenoid 110 is illustrated across lines L14 and L15 in FIG. 2 and when the coil 60C is energized to indicate a hit on the scoreboard 50, a branch circuit is completed from the conductor 101 in line L13 of FIG. 2, through a conductor 111 and thence through a conductor 112 to a transformer 113 to return to its source represented by the line AC2 through a conductor 114. The completion of this circuit energizes the transformer 113, resulting in energization of the solenoid 110 which is disposed in the bat 42 and the energization of this solenoid produces the feel of a shock in the bat 42 as would be experienced when actually hitting a baseball.

Moreover, energization of the relay coil 4CR, shown in FIG. 6, closes its normally opened contact 4CR-4 in line L11 of FIG. 2 to complete a circuit from the energized common conductor 76 to the relay coil 2CR with the circuit continuing from the relay coil 2CR to the line AC2 to return to its source. Energization of the relay coil 2CR opens its normally closed contact 2CR-1 in line L9 of FIG. 2 and closes its normally open contact 2CR2 in line L10. Opening of the contact 2CR1 interrupts the circuit to the lamp 72 of the projector 32 to remove its picture from the screen and also interrupts the circuit to the sound amplifier 77 so that no sound is generated by the film passing through the projector 32.

On the other hand, closure of the normally open contact 2CR2 in line L of FIG. 2 completes a circuit to a sound amplifier 115 associated with the projector 33 and also completes a circuit to the projector lamp 73 shown in line L10 of FIG. 2. The energization of the lamp 73 and the amplifier sound circuit 115 causes the film passing through the projector 33 to be projected on the screen 31 to show the fielder retrieving the ball that had supposedly been hit by the batter. Appropriate sounds are also emanating at the same time from the speaker 35, having been generated by the sound amplifier circuit 115 which cooperates with the projector 33.

After a prescribed period of time, the protrusion 81 on the film 80 is interrupted and this releases the switch 82 to permit it to return to its normally open position as shown in line L12 of FIG. 2. Opening of the switch 82 interrupts the circuit to the light source 48 and the relay 3CR in line L16 of FIG. 2 which causes its contact 3CR-1, shown in FIG. 6, to return to its normally open position which interrupts the circuit to the relay coil 4CR to de-energize this coil if it had been energized by the scoring of a hit. De-energization of the coil 4CR causes its normally open contact 4CR-4 in line L11 of FIG. 2 to return to its open position to interrupt the circuit to the relay coil ZCR. De-energization of the relay coil 2CR in line L11 of FIG. 2, causes its contact 2CR2 in line L10 to return to its normally open position to interrupt the circuit to the sound amplifier 115 and the projector lamp 73 of the projector lamp 33. As a result, the picture of the fielder retrieving the ball is removed from the screen 31 as the projector 33 is no longer projecting onto the screen. However, at the same time, the de-energization of the relay coil 2CR causes its normally closed contact 2CR-1 in line L9 to return to its normally closed position to reactivate the circuit to the sound amplifier 77 and the projector lamp 72 associated with the projector 32. As a result, the projector 32 returns the picture of a baseball pitcher onto the screen 31 ready to pitch another baseball toward the batter who is playin the game. If a hit had not been scored, the light 73 for the projector 33 would not have been energized and the picture of a baseball player retrieving a ball would not have appeared on the screen. Instead, the projector 32 would continue to show its picture of a baseball pitcher throwing another ball.

The game continues in this manner until the baseball pitcher has been shown pitching a prescribed number of pitches with both projectors being operated at the same time. The film in the projector 33 is illustrated in FIG. 4 and is identified by the reference numeral 120. The end of this film 120 is provided with a projection 121 of limited length which extends laterally from the left edge of the film as viewed in FIG. 4. The purpose of this projection is to actuate a switch 125 which is a normally open switch as illustrated diagrammatically in line L5 of FIG. 2. When the projection 121 appears toward the end of the film 120, it actuates the switch 125 to its closed condition for the purpose of momentarily actuating the unlatching coil lCRU shown in line L5. The energization of the relay ICRU serves to unlatch the latching relay ICRL shown in line L4. This unlatching of the relay 1CRL causes it to contact lCRL-l in line L6 to return to its normally open position to interrupt the circuit to the on lamp 67 so that it will be apparent the front of the cabinet that the game is over with. In addition, the opening of the contact lCRL-l interrupts the circuit to both projector motors 70 and 71 shown in lines L7 and L8 of FIG. 2. The opation of both projectors then terminates. In addition, the opening of contact 1CRL-1 interrupts the circuit through the conductors 74 and 75 to de-energize the projector lamp 72 in the line L9 of FIG. 2, so that all projector motors are de-energized and both projector lamps are likewise de-energized. The projector motors 70 and 71 and the projector lamps 72 and 73 can again be operated when the relay lCRL in the line L 4 is again energized.

This ends the game and suitable motors (not shown) can be provided for rewinding film and to its starting position. In the alternative, a continuous film may be provided that winds itself about the projector without rewinding and when a coin is inserted into the slot 36, the film 120 moves a sufiicient amount to remove the projection 121 from engagement with the switch 125 so that the unlatching relay ICRU will not be energized at the start of the game.

The switch 82 has been described and shown in FIG. 3 as being actuated by the protrusion 81 on the film 80. In the like manner the switch 125 has been shown in FIG. 4 and described as being actuated by the protrusion 121 on the film 120. This arrangement has been described as an illustrative embodiment that is conveniently illustrated. Other arrangements can be employed for actuating such switches. For example, a specific modulated frequency could be impressed on the sound track of the film at the desired point. A selective amplifier could then be tuned to the modulated frequency to receive this signal for actuating a relay to produce the same results.

From the foregoing detailed description of the construction and operation of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention it will become apparent that a new and improved electric baseball batting game has been provided in which a player may engage in baseball batting practice without actually hitting a ball by swinging at an imaginary ball which is being shown as pitched on a movie screen and the game actually records the hits and misses by the batter as if the ball has actually been pitched toward him.

Although the illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described in considerable detail for purpose of making a full disclosure of a practical operative arrangement by means of which the invention may be practiced, it is to be understood that various novel features of the invention may be incorporated in other arrangements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

The principles of this invention having now been fully explained in connection with the foregoing description, I hereby claim as my invention:

1. In a baseball batting game for simulating the batting of a baseball by a batter; a figure of a human being; means for animating said figure into the motions of a baseball pitcher pitching a baseball to a batter; a source of light producing a light beam direct into substantially the same path of travel that would be taken by the baseball if it had actually been pitched by said figure of a human being; and indicating means connected to indicate when said beam of light is interrupted so that a person playing the game may swing a bat at the imaginary ball being pitched by the animated figure and when his swing at the ball is accurate, the bat will interrupt said light beam to actuate said indicating means to indicate that a hit has been scored by the player.

2. A baseball batting game according to claim 1; including means for energizing said source of light at substantially the same instant that the baseball would have left the hand of said figure of a human being if the baseball had actually been pitched so that the beam of light appears at approximately the same time that the baseball would have arrived at the batter.

3. A baseball batting game according to claim 1; in cluding an electric control circuit for regulating the operation of the game; and a photoelectric cell connected in said electric control circuit and mounted in position to receive the beam of light emanating from said source to be activated by said light beam and connected to actuate said indicating means when said light beam is interrupted by the swinging bat of the player.

4. A baseball batting game according to claim 3 wherein said indicating means includes a solenoid mounted in the bat employed by the person playing the game, said solenoid being connected in said electrical circuit; and means in said electric control circuit responsive to the increased resistance of said photoelectric cell caused by the interruption of said light beam to energize said solenoid for jarring said bat to thereby simulate the feel of the bat striking a pitched baseball.

5. A baseball batting game according to claim 1 wherein said animated figure is a motion picture projected onto a screen illustrating a baseball pitcher pitching a baseball; and said light beam emanates from said screen at the point where the baseball would leave the hand of the pitcher if such baseball had actually been pitched.

6. A baseball batting game according to claim 5 including a first projector arranged to project said motion picture onto said screen illustrating a baseball pitcher pitching a baseball; a second projector arranged to project a second motion picture onto said screen illustrating a baseball player retrieving a baseball hit by a batter; an electrical circuit connected to regulate the operation of said first and second projectors; switching means in said electrical circuit normally conditioned to direct the electrical energy for operating said first projector to illustrate the baseball pitcher pitching the baseball on said screen, said switching means being connected to be actuated by the interruption of said light beam to terminate operation of said first projector and direct the electrical energy for operating said second projector to illustrate the baseball player on said screen retrieving a batted baseball.

7. A baseball batting game according to claim 1 including an electric control circuit for regulating the operation of the game and wherein said indicating means comprises a scoreboard; a plurality of hit lights mounted in said scoreboard for indicating the number of hits scored by the batter; a plurality of miss lights mounted in said scoreboard for indicating the number of misses committed by the batter; first switching means connected in said electric control circuit to regulate the energization of said hit lights and to be actuated by the interruption of said light beam by the batter after the animated figure has been shown pitching a baseball to individually light said hit lights successively each time the batter swings accurately to score a hit; and second switching means connected in said electric control circuit to regulate the energization of said miss rights and to be ing means connected in said electric control circuit to regulate the energization of said miss lights and to be actuated after the animated figure is shown pitching the baseball and the light beam remains uninterrupted to individually light said miss lights successively each time the batter swings inaccurately to score a miss.

8. A baseball batting game according to claim 7; including a solenoid mounted in the bat employed by the person playing the game, said solenoid being connected in said electrical control circuit; and means in said electrical control circuit responsive to the interruption of said light beam to energize said solenoid for jarring said bat to thereby simulate the feel of the bat striking a pitched baseball.

9. A baseball batting game according to claim 1 including means actuated by the scoring of a hit by the batter to animate said figure of a human being into the motions of a baseball player retrieving a baseball that would have been hit by the batter if such baseball had actually been pitched.

10. A baseball batting game according to claim 1 including an electric control circuit for regulating the operation of the game; and wherein said indicating means includes a solenoid mounted in the bat employed by the person playing the game, said solenoid being connected in said electrical control circuit; and means in said electric control circuit responsive to the interruption of said light beam to energize said solenoid and thereby jar the bat to simulate the bat striking a pitched ball.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,310,084 2/1943 Hooker et al 273-101.1 3,072,410 1/1963 Simjian 273- RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner T. BROWN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 273-88, 101.1 

